The Buyer
New awards and judges for London Wine and Spirit Competitions

New awards and judges for London Wine and Spirit Competitions

The closing date for entries into the separate London Wine, London Spirits, and London Beer Competitions is upon us. For those looking to enter we set out some of the reasons why these competitions have become one of the fastest growing awards in the industry with an increasingly impressive roll call of professional wine and spirits figures making up its all important judging panels. The awards remain the only major competitions that are judged on quality, value and packaging. We talk to awards founder Sid Patel about some of the changes that have been introduced this year to make the competitions even more relevant for drinks producers looking for listings and the right distribution partners to work with.

Richard Siddle
22nd February 2025by Richard Siddle
posted in Awards,

“Winning at the London Wine, Beer, and Spirits Competitions isn’t just a trophy on your shelf—it’s a mark of quality recognised by both trade and consumers worldwide. With our competitions growing in prestige and reach, this is your opportunity to elevate your brand, open doors to new markets, and position your products as must-have items for retailers and on-trade buyers.”

That in a nutshell is what Sid Patel, chief executive of Beverage Trade Network, and the founder of the London Wine, Beer and Spirits Competitions, hopes the awards can achieve for all the drinks producers that enter.

The Buyer

Sid Patel wants to be the platform to help drinks producers find the right distribution partners

It hopes it can act as a platform to help those brands and producers find the right listings and importers to work with. To give them the professional backing and support that winning a medal in such a tightly organised event can deliver.

Patel says this year’s judging panels have been expanded to include top independent drinks merchants, supermarket buyers, influencers and key drinks writers. The event has also recruited a number of category ambassadors around the world who can then help promote and introduce the category winners in key export markets.

He adds: “This year’s panel features an impressive blend of top trade buyers, Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, importers, distributors, writers, and influencers, representing the diverse perspectives and expertise of the modern wine industry.

“The London Wine Competition continues to grow as a benchmark for brands wanting to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. By bringing together such a diverse panel—ranging from small independent retailers to major distributors and influencers—we ensure that the results provide real, actionable insights to producers looking to understand and meet market demands.”
He also believes the expanded judging panel “underscores the competition’s commitment to assessing wines holistically, including quality, value for money, and packaging appeal—three essential criteria that matter most to consumers and buyers alike.”


Crucially each judging panel will also include a Master of Wine, or a Master Sommelier as part of the judging process.

Why enter?

Patel explains why he believes the competitors can be such a valuable tool for drinks produces, brands owners, wine producers and distillers: “Winning at the London Wine, Beer, and Spirits Competitions isn’t just a trophy on your shelf—it’s a mark of quality recognised by both trade and consumers worldwide. With our competitions growing in prestige and reach, this is your opportunity to elevate your brand, open doors to new markets, and position your products as must-have items for retailers and on-trade buyers.”

London Wine Competition

The Buyer

Here are some of the leading wine figures that are taking part in the London Wine Competition judging.

Frances Bentley Wine Buyer at LWC Drinks

Valeria Rodriguez AIWS Head of Fine Wine Bibendum Wine

Carla Bertellotti Managing Director at Vinos Latinos

Maxence Masurier Director & Founder at Made In Little France Import Limited

Dafydd Morris Director, Cheers Wine Merchants, UK

Douglas Blyde Wine Columnist, Evening Standard, UK

Emily Brighton MW Master of Wine & Head of Technical at North South Wines Ltd

Joshua Castle Group Head Buyer For Keeling Andrew, Noble Rot and Shrine to the Vine

Cong Cong Bo Wine Writer, Educator, Sommelier, Retailer and Owner, Amphora Cambridge

Harry Crowther Wine buyer at Good Pair Days

Bianca Ford Bianca Ford, Operations Director and Buyer at Yapp Brothers Ltd

Sunny Hodge Wine Judge and Writer

Irem Eren DipWSET Regional And Category Ambassador For Low and No Alcohol CategoryDavid Harvey Wine Importer at Raeburn Fine Wines

Josh Kelly No and Low Buyer and Brands Relations Manger at Club Soda

Vidya Narasimhan Wine Consultant and Advisory Board Member at Be Inclusive Hospitality

Ruchira Neotia Drinks Consultant & Founder, Ruchira’s Table

Emma Penman, Wine Buyer at Waitrose

Kirsty Woodgate DipWSET Communications Professional, Wine Judge, Occasional Wine Writer

Henna Zinzuwadia Award-Winning Sommelier | Ambassador for Diversity in Wine & Hospitality | GQ Sommelier of the Year | Founder of Service | Mentoring the Next Generation of Women

Emma Jenkinson, Wine Sourcing Manager at Morrisons

Dan Belmont Director & Wine Buyer at Good Wine Good People & GWGP TRADE

London Spirits Competition

Here are some of the judges in the spirits competition.

The Buyer
The Buyer
The Buyer


Extra awards

The London Competitions is pleased to announce four new medal categories this year covering:

  • Importer of the Year: This accolade is awarded to the importer who demonstrates excellence in curating a portfolio of high-quality wines, showcasing their commitment to value, innovation, and market impact. Importers are evaluated based on the performance of their wines in the competition, which is judged on three key criteria: quality, value for money, and packaging.
  • Importer of the Year by Country: This award is looking to highlight the best importer in the top 10 participating countries of London Wine Competition which is Australia, Italy, France, Spain, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Argentina, Greece and Germany. This category highlights the achievements of importers in their ability to identify and promote wines that resonate with consumers in their region.
  • Own-Label Retailer of the Year: This looks to celebrates retailers excelling in curating and promoting their own-label wines, offering customers exceptional choices that stand out in the market.
  • Own-Label Restaurant of the Year: This award acknowledges restaurants that have successfully created and integrated own-label wines into their offerings, enhancing the dining experience and showcasing innovation in wine selection.

Judging criteria

  • Companies will be evaluated based on the total number of medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) won across their entries.
  • The average scores across all submitted products will be considered to ensure consistent quality.
  • Companies must have entered a minimum of 20 products, scored a minimum average score of 85%, and won at least four gold medals to qualify.
  • From the qualified companies, the company with the highest average among all entries will win the own-label category award for its company type (importer, retailer, and restaurant) will be shortlisted.
  • The process to qualify for country importer of the year will require the importer to enter 10 products per country of origin in order to qualify. And then the same process will be applied. Importers automatically qualify for these awards based on the wines they submit to the competition. The award-winning importers are those whose submissions collectively perform the best, securing the highest number of accolades across the competition's rigorous judging process.

These awards reflect the growing trend of businesses developing proprietary wine labels to provide unique and tailored options to their clientele. By introducing these categories, the London Wine Competition aims to highlight and reward the efforts of importers, retailers, and restaurants in delivering high-quality own-label wines that meet consumer expectations.

Patel explains: “Own-label today is no longer just about affordability—it’s about trust and quality Retailers, importers, and restaurants are curating own-label wines and spirits that rival established brands in craftsmanship and appeal. These ranges reflect a deep understanding of consumer tastes and preferences, offering products that are not only competitively priced but also deliver exceptional quality. This award recognises the incredible work behind these collections and their role in reshaping perceptions of what own-label can represent.”

Closing date and entry details

Related Articles